System of lightning-conductors.



G. A. MULLEN.

SYSTEM 0F LiGHTNNG CONDUCTORS. APPLICATION man Home. i915.

1,244, 1 1 8. www@ @en 2 w17.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

G. A. MULLEN.

SYSTEM 0F LIGHTNING CONDUCTORS.

.WPHC/mom m50 Nov.6,1915.

1,244,1 18. Patented Oct. 23, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.`

GEQEGE ALLEN MULLEN, 0E woonEURY, NEW JERSEY.

SYSTEM OF LIGHTNING-CONDUCTORS.`

Specification of Letters Patent. Patenrtedrot, 23, 1917,

` Application filed November 6, 1915. Serial No. 59,957.

f To all 'whom t mayconcern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE ALLEN MUL- LEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Woodbury, in the county of Gloucester f and State ofNew Jersey, have invented certain new andv useful Improvements in Systems of Lightning-Conductors; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

iMy invention relates to lightning conductors: A

The object of my invention is to provide a system of lightning conductors which shall lapproximately form a metallic cage surrounding the structure.'

In carrying out my invention, I make use of the ridgerolls, ridge cappings, flashings, and rain spouts that form a part of the structure t'o be protected fromk lightning. I are formed of 'non-corrosive metal, or i said parts are very heavy, Ifmake use of them `-even if they are formed of corrosive metal.

Should any' of these parts not be suitable for use in'my |system of lightning conductors, or should it be necessary to provide protection at any part of the structure where said parts do not exist, I make use of a composite conductor preferably of ribbon form.

Said ribbon conductor is formed with a core, preferably ofnon-corrosive metal and to said core I apply a plurality of metallic coatings tof prevent corrosion and side flashing.

Wherever the word conductor is used, it is -to'be understood as meaning an electric conductor of `any cross section, and whether 'imbricated, woven, twisted or solid.

yI provide each vertical conductor with a separate ground and join all vertical conf ductorstogether by a conductor laid below the surface ofthe earth. A f

I furthermore connect with my system of lightning conductors al1-steam pipes, water pipes and all vother metallic pipes, excepting f gas pipes and all largemasses of vmetal Vwhich form a part of the structure. to be protected. v

In the drawngsz-mA Figure v1, is a perspective View of the structure provided with myimproved system' ofi-lightning conductors, the windows and doors being omitted for the sake of clearness Y Fig; 2, is a perspective view of the connector with which I join twosections of my ribbon conductor;

Fig. 3, is a perspective view of a discharge point and support such as I apply to ridge rolls and ridge cappings;

Fig. 4, is a view of a portion of the rain conductor, showing the manner of' attaching a ground thereto;

Fig. 5, isa perspective view of a stable provided with my improved system of lightning conductors, the doors and windows being omitted for the sake of clearness;

Fig. 6, is a viewof my improved noninductive ground shown as buried below the surface of the earth and surrounded with a hygroscopic conducting packing;

Fig. 7, is a perspective view of a portion of my conducting ribbon, showing the perforation in same and the method of attaching same to the structure to be protected;

Fig. 8, is a plan view showing the method of applying discharge points and conductors to a pair of chimney pots; and v Fig. 9, is a detail view showing the application of my improved system of lightning conductors to a pair of chimney pots.

In the drawings 1 10 represents a structure provided with a ridge roll or ridge capping 11 along the ridge of the roof and with the vridge rolls or ridge cappings 12-12 along the-top of the gables 13-13.

To the ridge rolls or ridge cappings 11 and 12-12, I apply any suitable number of discharge points 14-14-14- The discharge points 14 are applied to a support 15 provided with holes 16-16, which support is secured to the structure by screws 17-17- 17, which pass through the holes 16--16 in the support 15. A stud such as 18 is riveted to each support 15 and the discharge point 14: is placed upon the stud 18 and secured thereto by rolling 'the depressions 19 in the lower portion of the discharge point 14, the inside of said depressions fitting ink grooves provided in the stud 18. v

Vherever there is a chimney pot or chimney opening to beprotected, I'plaoe ribbon Aconductors such as 20-20 across the openings 21-21 of the pot or chimney and secure to said conductors 20-20 a third conductor 22 by rivets ,S1-1Gb. .as 23-23, and on the conductor 22 midway between the chimney pots, I apply the discharge point 24. The d1scharge point 24 is inall respects similar to the discharge point 14, shown in Fig. 3, and

is secured to a stud similar to 18, the lower portion of said stud also Vserving to secure the conductor 25 to the conductor 22. The ends of 'the conductors 20 and 22 are bent down around the bead of the chimney pots 1. as shown at 26-26 and 27-27 respectively in Fig. 9.

The ridge rolls 11 and 12 are connected togetherby ribbon conductors 28-28 and said conductors are further connected to the 15 ashings such as 29-29, the lower ends of V.which are connected by the ribbon conductors 30-30-30-30 to the rain trough sections 31-31-31.

Thev rainltrough sections, by their con- .2Q struction, are usually inelectrical connection with the rain conductors 32-32-32-32, or ifnot inelectrical yconnection therewith, I provide I an electrical .y connection between the trough 31and vthe conductors 32. 25 To the lower endmof each rain conductor 32, I ,apply a clamp 33 lformed of metallic .t ribbon which fits snugly around the rain conductork 32. The clamp 33 is provided with ears suchas 34y and between said ears, 3. the end-3,5 ofra ground 36 is secured by the rivet or bolt 37. v

Flashingsh 38-#38-38-.38 are connected with the ridge rolls 12f12. Should the ,iashings 38 not forma partof the structure to be protected, or should theybe of light,

corroslve material, I use. my improved metallicribbon in place of the flashings 38. In some cases, I `userhmy improved metallic ribbon along any exposed edgeof the structure 4| to be protected as at 42 along the edge of the `roof 43.

Ipreferablyattach my improved metallic ribbon,shovvn` at 39 in Fig. 7, by means of screws such as 40, or in lieu thereof by nails, passing through slots such as .41. yThe screw or vnail is applied through the center Vof the slot41so,I that expansion or contraction of the ribbon 39 due to changes of temperature `will notk produce an undue stress on said 5u serewsor nails. v

To connect two portions on my improved ribbon conductor, I make use of the connecktor44.- This connector consists of a body 45 Y of thesamewidth and thickness asiny im- 'f- .proved ribbon conductor.l The body 45 terminates at eachend with two ears 46-46 and 47-47`v each of the same width and same thickness as the body 45. Slots 48-48 are provided between the ears 46 and 47said slots being of a Width equal to the thickness vof my improved,v *conductor ribbon. Holes .491-49 `are provided throughathe ears46-46 and .147-47. The endof the ribbon conductor provided with a ihole adapted to register with one of the holes 49, when said conductor is introduced within one of the slots 48. Rivets or bolts shown at 50-50 are placed through the holes 49 to secure the conductors 39 and the connector 44 together'. The juncture of the ribbon and con- 70 nector is then to be securely soldered.

lVherever a juncture is made between a. ridge roll and ribbon, between a flashing and ridge roll, between a flashing and conductor, between a conductor and a rain trough, or between a rain conductor and a ground, said juncture is preferably riveted and soldered.

. Referring to Figs. 1 and 6, it will be noted that my non-inductive ground 36 is formed of my improved conductor ribbonand conso sists of a plurality of coils 51 wound in one direction and formed integrally with a plurality of coils 52 wound in the opposite direction. The objectof winding the coils 51 and 52 in opposite directions isito eliminate 85 self induction, while obtaining the increased surface afforded by a long length of ribbon.

The ground 36 is introduced into a. hole provided in the earth 53 and a packing such as 54 is packed around the ground 36. The 90 packing 54 may extend to the surface of the earth, as shown in Fig. 6, or it may extend to just above the coils 51 and the rest ofthe hole be filled up with earth.

The packing 54 is preferably composed @95 a substance which is a fairly good conductorv of electricity, such as powdered coke, charcoal or carbon, and in order to insure that the same shall'be continuously moist,` I mix with said coke, charcoal or carbon, some salt such as chlorid of sodium or potassium hydroxid, which is highly hygroscopic.

The grounds 36-,-3636-36 are connected together by. a conductor such as 55 buried below the surface of the earth.y The con- V ductor 55 extends entirely around the strueture connecting all grounds together.

Wherever' any of the metal which forms part of my system of lightning conductors approaches a large mass of metal, other than gas pipes, which forms a part of the strueture to be protected, the said metal is connected to said mass as is shown iniFig. 1, where the rain conductor 32 on the extreme left of the structure is connected by the rib-# bon 56 to the waterv pipe 57. I' preferably make such aconnection which acts .in conjunction with the protection afforded by the plurality of coatings given to my ribbbn conductor to prevent side flashing.

Fig. 5, shows a stable provided with ridge rolls 58-58 having the discharge points 59-59 and 'connected by the ribbon .com-

,ed by the dischargeV point 62 applied to the ridge' roll 6.3 thereof, which is connected: IUT-30 the conductor 64E- 64 with the ridge rolls 58--58.

The hay track G5 in the loft of the stable is connected by the conductor 66 with one of the ridge rolls 58, or with both. of said ridge rolls7 in `order to prevent side flashing; this being additional protection to the protection afforded against side flashing by the plurality of metallic coatings applied to my conductor ribbon.

W'hen ridge rolls, ridge cappings, flashings, rain troughs or rain conductors do not exist, or when if they do exist they are unsuitable or use as lightning conductors, I use my improved form of ribbon conductor in lieu of such parts. r

I have stated that all oints are riveted and soldered. Joints above ground may be so secured or they may be secured by Welding, but all joints below ground I preferably secure by welding.

I claim l. The combination of a plurality of uninsulated conductors forming a Cage about a structure comprising internal metallic masses with grounds connected to said conductors, and connections between said conductors and said metallic masses.

2. The combination With a plurality of chimney openings of a metallic grid across each opening, a bar connecting said grids and a discharge point mounted on said bar and a ground connected to said bar.

In testimony whereof, I allix my signature.

GEORGE ALLEN MULLEN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

